Increased fees, levies could see country pubs close

The National Party says some Gippsland pubs could be forced to close because of increasing liquor licence fees and the fire services levy.

The Member for Morwell, Russell Northe, is meeting with publicans at Glengarry today.

Mr Northe says fees have increased by thousands of dollars under government changes that came into place at the start of the month.

He says insurance premiums for pubs have also tripled in recent years because of the Government's fire services levy.

"It puts in financial jeopardy many of our country pubs and that's the last thing we want to see," he said.

"They are the hub or the centre of many of our smaller communities so it's significant increases in cost that are placing enormous pressure on these pubs and clubs and we feel that the Brumby Government is not listening to these concerns."